Journalists boycott NA session for 2nd consecutive day
ISLAMABAD, April 20,2005: Reporters boycotted the National Assembly proceedings for the second consecutive day on Tuesday to protest the manhandling of journalists by police at the Lahore airport on April 16.
No federal minister or opposition member came to the lobby to talk to reporters.The reporters started their boycott of the proceedings on Monday against the manhandling of their colleagues on April 16 at Lahore airport demanding apology from the Punjab government.
The journalists who were manhandled at the airport were travelling with Asif Ali Zardari to cover his arrival in Lahore.
The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy and the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal came up with their separate resolutions to end the deadlock but Wasi Zafar, federal minister for law justice and human rights, opposed the resolutions.
Aitzaz Ahsan of the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians and Liaquat Baloch of the MMA presented resolutions in the House on points of order but Mr Zafar opposed the resolutions. He said the manhandling of the reporters was concocted and exaggerated.
Khawaja Asif, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader, termed April 16 a black day for journalism. Mehmood Khan Achakzai of the Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement called for a parliamentary committee to investigate the matter.
Online adds: Meanwhile, reporters have formed a five-member committee for negotiations with the government about the April 16 incident. The members are Rauf Klasara, Ejaz Mir, Nusrat Javed, Sikandar Hayat Chaudhry and Saud Seher. The reporters have also decided not to cover the National Assembly proceedings until their demands are met.
Source: Daily Times
Date:4/20/2005
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